South Dakota Civil Air Patrol Wins Award for Excellence

Dec. 26—Journal staff

The South Dakota Civil Air Patrol (CAP) won the Unit Citation Award from the organization's national headquarters recognizing unprecedented growth and accomplishments during 2019, according to a press release.

CAP North Central Region Commander Col. John R. O'Neill presented the award in an online presentation ceremony this year and said the award is rare and he has never seen one presented before.

"You very clearly earned this award in 2019, but you haven't stopped," Col. O'Neill said. "2020 has been a crazy year, and you in South Dakota Wing have stepped to the forefront, still, and continued this tradition."

In 2019, the South Dakota Wing improved recruitment by increasing squadrons in the Wing, accomplished aerospace education with camps in rural and underserved communities, and grew the Legislative Squadron, as nearly all 105 members of the South Dakota Legislature are also members of this squadron.

The Wing also improved on emergency services as the first Wing to use sUAS (drones) in a real mission, developed national training standards for the use of sUAVs, and conducted a variety of missing persons and disaster relief missions, according to a press release.

Last week the South Dakota Wing also helped the South Dakota Department of Health with COVID-19 vaccine transport flights, and additional flights are anticipated.

The South Dakota Wing has more than 400 members in units in Brookings, Custer, Miller, Mitchell, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Spearfish and Tea, with wing aircraft and aircrews in Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City, Spearfish and Brookings.

The wing can deploy its six aircraft and ground teams where needed to assist in emergency response and other support to local, state, tribal and federal agencies.

___

(c)2020 Rapid City Journal, S.D.

Visit Rapid City Journal, S.D. at http://www.rapidcityjournal.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.